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Earl Ray Hill, 87 of North Little Rock, passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2012. He was born on May 7, 1924 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Ida Emma Zeuske Hill and Ray Hill.
He grew up in North Dakota and moved to Kansas City, Kansas. He was a graduate of Manual High School in Kansas City, Kansas, and was drafted before he finished high school. He served in Patton's Third Army and was a sergeant. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and received a silver star. If he had stayed one extra day for paperwork, he would have received a Purple Heart, but anyone who knew Earl understands he chose to come home instead. He got called back to Korea, and served two years at Camp Pendleton as a Marine.
He came home and went to Missouri Central State on a GI bill, where he earned double degrees in chemistry and physics with a minor in math. It was there that he met Margaret Lee Hamilton, married and moved to Harrison, Arkansas, where he was employed by the Treasury Department as an agent for Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, as it was known then. He retired as an ATF agent at 51 years old.
Earl was an avid golfer and enjoyed going with friends and family to the beach. He could be found with his friends at the round table at U.S. Pizza in Levy, where he served as past president of the "Table of Knowledge".
Earl helped his friends with their endeavors. He helped Burt Sinkey, a very close friend, and also his friend Judy Waller Breece with the Pizza Companies where he had the "Big Earl" named for him.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Roy, who died at age 19 on Okinawa. He is survived by his daughters, Nancy Ragan (Rick), Mary "Resa" Mullins (Joel, who was his best friend); three granddaughters, Shonda Phelps (Michael), Amy Crawford (Randy), and Katie Mullins (Adam); three great-grandsons, Porter, Connor, and Asher; his sister, Grace McCracken (Donald); two nephews; one niece; and numerous great-nieces and nephews. He had many friends, and nicknames for everyone.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Monday at North Little Rock Funeral Home. Graveside service with military honors will beheld at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday in Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.
Arrangements by North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main Street, 758-1170.
Online obituary and guest registry at www.nlrfh.com.
Visitation
APR
2.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (CDT)
North Little Rock Funeral Home
1921 Main Street
North Little Rock, AR, 72114
Graveside Service
APR
3.
11:00 AM (CDT)
Arkansas State Veterans Cemetry
1501 W Maryland Avenue
North Little Rock, AR, 72120